Video signal processing system

ABSTRACT

Video signal processing system is proposed which comprises a video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM) being adapted to realize all video signal or picture analysis processes with respect to received video data in concentrated and/or centralized form and which comprises a video signal or picture processing module (VSPM) being adapted to realize all video signal or picture processing processes with respect to received video data in concentrated and/or centralized form.

The present invention relates to a video signal processing system, avideo signal transmitter and a video signal receiver.

Usually, a sophisticated digital picture processing system consists ofseveral distinct and separated modules like e.g. frame rate conversion,interlaced to progressive conversion, noise reduction and pictureenhancement. Each of this blocks usually needs some analysis informationto achieve highest quality. These analysis blocks are mostly integratedinto the respective picture processing components

Therefore, the video processing system is typically considered as asequence or concatenation of equally important modules where the outputof one module is input to the next module.

On the other hand, several approaches propose hardware implementationsof a motion estimator utilised for upconversion and noise reductionprocesses inside a pure analog video receiver. The principal idea ofthese implementations is to derive and utilise one set of motion vectorsfor these two processing stages. The use cases utilising this approachare restricted to uncompressed video signals.

Further, research has been performed in the area of motion estimationfor MPEG2 coding using true-motion vectors. These approaches however aretypically not implemented in state-of-the art designs. Systems whichmake use of inter-frame video compression generally perform blockmatching between pairs of fields or frames within the group of pictures(GOP) or video object planes (VOB).

Therefore, state of the art video signal processing systems employ up tothree different motion estimators in the cascade of processing stages,noise reduction, encoding, and format conversion. As set out above,these motion estimators work independently and do not share anyresources or information with each other. Furthermore, the motionestimators are typically based on different motion estimation algorithmsresulting in picture quality degradations introduced by the differentmotion vector information generated by the motion estimators.

This is especially true when it comes to video coding. Traditionalinter-frame video encoders estimate motion within a group of pictures orvideo object planes. This method however does not estimate the “true”motion of objects between fields or frames.

Furthermore, a state of the art system consisting of a noise reducer, avideo encoder, and a format converter estimate motion at least twice intwo different modules, namely once in the transmitter and once in thereceiver.

It is the object underlying the present invention to provide a videoprocessing system, a video signal transmitter, and a video signalreceiver which allow a more efficient use of system resources.

This object is solved by a video signal processing system according tothe present invention as defined in claim 1, by a video signaltransmitter according to the present invention as defined in claim 10,and by a video signal receiver according to the present invention asdefined in claim 17. Preferred embodiments thereof are respectivelydefined in the respective dependent claims.

The video signal processing system according to the present inventioncomprises a video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM) which isadapted to realize—in particular all—video signal or picture analysisprocesses with respect to received video data in concentrated and/orcentralized form. Further a video signal or picture processing module(VSPM) is provided which is adapted to realize—in particular all—videosignal or picture processing processes with respect to received videodata in concentrated and/or centralized form.

It is a basic idea of the present invention to concentrate and/orcentralized the respective video signal or picture analysis capabilitieswithin a single video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM) and toconcentrate and/or centralized the respective video signal or pictureprocessing capabilities within a single video signal or pictureprocessing module (VSPM).

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said videosignal or picture analysis module (VSAM) comprises—in particularall—video signal or picture analysis components in concentrated and/orcentralized form, in particular motion estimation and/or segmentation,Additionally or alternatively, said video signal or picture processingmodule (VSPM) comprises—in particular all—video signal or pictureprocessing components in concentrated and/or centralized form, inparticular motion estimation and/or segmentation components, inparticular frame rate conversion and/or picture improvement components.

According to an advantageous embodiment a video meta data transmissionchannel is provided which is adapted to connect said video signal orpicture analysis module (VSAM) and said video signal or pictureprocessing module (VSPM) so as to enable an exchange of video meta data.

In other words, an embodiment of the video signal processing systemaccording to the present invention comprises a video signal transmitterand a video signal receiver which are connected by a video signaltransmission channel, according to the present invention additionallycomprises a video information transmission channel between the videosignal transmitter and the video signal receiver.

The video signal transmitter according to the present inventioncomprises a video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM) as a globalanalysis module for analysing an incoming video signal and providingvideo information corresponding thereto to at least one videopre-processing stage within a video signal transmitter or a video signalor picture analysis module (VSAM) and/or via a video information orvideo meta data channel to at least one video signal processing stagewithin a video signal receiver or a video signal picture processingmodule (VSPM).

The video signal receiver according to the present invention comprisesat least one video signal or picture processing module (VSPM) as aprocessing module for processing a video signal received from a videosignal transmitter or a video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM)based on video information received from said video signal transmitteror said video signal or picture processing module (VSPM).

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible that videoinformation, i.e. results of analysing the video signal, e.g. for noisereduction, encoding and format conversion, is not only handled insiderespective modules and crosses the module boundaries as well as apassing of video information from the video signal transmitter to thevideo signal receiver.

According to the present invention a structure is provided to replacethe picture analysis processing steps which are distributed among therespective components in current state of the art systems by acentralised, i.e. global, analysis. Therefore, e.g. a spatial matchingprocess in an interlaced to progressive conversion filter, whichdetermines the orientation of an edge before the actual interpolation isdone, produces results, which are then also available to e.g. an noisereduction component or a frame rate conversion component.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the analysis informationneeded by the several modules of a sophisticated digital pictureprocessing system can be used also by other modules from the processingchain, i.e. no analysis processing steps are done twice in a similar way(e.g. motion estimation and motion detection). Therefore, an effectiveutilisation of resources is achieved.

E.g. the computational overhead of the motion estimation approach instate of the art systems is evident. This becomes even more evident whenthe relative complexity of a motion estimator is considered compared tothe other video processing modules in the system. The motion estimatoris typically the most complex module and is largely responsible for theoverall picture quality.

Another example is the computational overhead of noise reduction instate-of the art systems which is proportional to the quality of thenoise reduction modules employed by the system. According to the presentinvention a high quality noise reduction might be employed distributedin the system, while the picture analysis for this noise reduction isperformed centralised.

In the video signal processing system according the present inventionpreferably said video information transmission channel comprises aforward channel to transmit video meta data from the video signaltransmitter or said video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM) tothe video signal receiver or said video signal or picture processingmodule (VSPM).

In the video signal processing system according the present inventionfurther preferably said video meta data comprises picture analysisinformation to process a video signal on the video signal receiver sideor the side of said video signal or picture processing module (VSPM).

In the video signal processing system according the present inventionalternatively or additionally preferably said video informationtransmission channel comprises a backward channel to transmit videoquality data from the video signal receiver or video signal or pictureprocessing module (VSPM) to the video signal transmitter or video signalor picture analysis module (VSAM).

In the video signal processing system according the present inventionfurther preferably said video quality data provides a respectivefeedback to video meta data received by the video signal receiver orpicture processing module (VSPM) from the video signal transmitter orvideo signal or picture analysis module (VSAM).

In the video signal processing system according the present inventionalternatively or additionally further preferably said quality datacomprises picture quality information to pre-process a video signal onthe video signal transmitter side or the side of said video signal orpicture analysis module (VSAM).

In the video signal transmitter according to the present inventionpreferably said global analysis module comprises a motion estimator,and/or an edge detector, and/or a noise measurement unit, and/or a filmmode detector, and/or a histogram calculation unit, and/or a blockdetector, and/or a segmentation unit.

In the video signal transmitter according to the present inventionalternatively or additionally preferably said global analysis modulecomprises a video meta data encoder to encode said video informationinto video meta data.

In the video signal transmitter according to the present inventionfurther alternatively or additionally preferably said global analysismodule adapts its parameter settings according to received picturequality information to improve its analysis functionality.

The video signal transmitter according to the present inventionpreferably additionally comprises at least one pre-processing stageadapted to receive video analysis information and to pre-process anincoming video signal according to said received video informationbefore said video signal is transmitted to a video signal receiver.

In this case, in the video signal transmitter according to the presentinvention preferably said least one pre-processing stage comprises anoise reducer, and/or a video encoder.

Further this case, in the video signal transmitter according to thepresent invention alternatively or additionally preferably said leastone pre-processing stage comprises a video meta data decoder.

In the video signal receiver according to the present inventionpreferably said at least one processing module comprises a video metadata decoder to decode said video information from received video metadata.

In the video signal receiver according to the present inventionalternatively or additionally preferably said at least one processingmodule provides picture quality information as feedback to said videoinformation to said video signal transmitter.

In the video signal receiver according to the present invention furtheralternatively or additionally preferably said at least one processingmodule comprises a video format converter, and/or a frame rateconverter, and/or an interlaced to progressive converter, and/or a noisereducer, and/or a picture improvement unit, and/or a de-blocking unit.

Further features and advantages of the video signal processing system,the video signal transmitter, and the video signal receiver according tothe present invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments thereof taken in conjunction withthe accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram demonstrating basic principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a video signal processing systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a principle block diagram of the picture analysis componentshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a principle block diagram of the picture processingcomponent shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a general audio/video processing system to which a secondembodiment of a video signal processing system according to the presentinvention is applicable.

FIG. 6 shows a common motion estimator of the second embodiment of avideo signal processing system according to the present invention in thegeneral audio/video processing system shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows the decoder side of the second embodiment of a video signalprocessing system according to the present invention in the generalaudio/video processing system shown in FIG. 5.

First of all, basic principles of the present invention are describedtaking reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1. The video processingsystem according to the present invention comprises a video signal orpicture analysis module VSAM which is adapted to realize all videosignal or picture analysis processes with respect to received video dataVin in concentrated and/or centralized form. Also, a video signal orpicture processing module VSPM is provided which is adapted to realizeall video signal or picture processing processes with respect to saidreceived video data Vin in concentrated and/or centralized form.

According to the present invention a digital picture processing systemis categorised into analysis parts, preferably one, and into pictureprocessing parts and the respective ones are centralised. FIG. 2 givesan overview of a first preferred embodiment of the system according tothe present invention.

Incoming video data is passed to a central picture analysis block 1and—via an optional forward channel 3—to a picture-processing block 2. Acommunication between the central picture analysis block 1 and thepicture-processing block 2 to transmit results of the picture analysisis done across a Video Meta Data Stream, which contains all availablepicture analysis information, organized by a Video Meta Data Protocol(VMDP). The Video Meta Data is synchronous to the video data and theVideo Meta Data Stream also passes through the forward channel 3.

FIG. 2 shows that the analysis block 1 and the picture-processing block2 don't have to be necessarily within the receiver, i.e. don't have tobe necessarily on the same side of the transmission channel, here theforward channel 3. As shown, it is also possible that picture analysisis already done on the producer/sender side and that all analysisinformation is transferred as Video Meta Data via the transmissionchannel.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the system may contain a back-path, i.e. abackward channel 4, from the processing component, i.e. thepicture-processing block 2, to the analysis component, i.e. the analysisblock 1. This backward channel 4 might carry information about thequality of the improved picture or about the quality of the analysisinformation. With this information, the analysis component can adapt itsparameter settings to improve them accordingly.

FIG. 3 shows the analysis block 1. It consists of a VMDP encoder 12 andanalysis components, such as a motion estimator 5, an edge detector 6, anoise measurement unit 7, a film mode detector 8, a histogram buildingunit 9, a block detector 10, and a segmentation unit 11 which allreceive the video signal and the quality information. There can be otheranalysis components as well. The single analysis components may also useresults from other ones. In case a system with lower qualityexpectations is wanted, some components maybe left out. It is alsopossible to apply simpler or more sophisticated algorithms, depending onthe expectations in terms of quality and cost. The VMDP encoder 12collects the complete analysis information (also referred to as videoinformation) and transfers it according to the video meta data protocolinto video meta data. In case a component is left out, the protocolpart, which carries the respective information might be set to a defaultvalue, e.g. in case the motion estimator is left out, vectors might beset to zero values.

FIG. 4 shows the block diagram of the picture-processing block 2. Itconsists of a VMDP decoder 13 and processing components, such as a framerate converter 14, an interlaced to progressive converter 15, a noisereducer 16, a picture improvement unit 17, and a de-blocking unit 18. Interms of scalability, the same is true as for the analysis block 1. TheVMDP decoder 13 decomposes the meta data according to the protocol andtransfers the meta data to the picture processing modules.

The basic idea of the invention is further elucidated in connection withFIGS. 5 to 7 by way of a second embodiment according to the presentinvention showing the harmonisation of temporal prediction byutilisation of a common motion estimator for different video processingstages in a video system.

A corresponding general video system to which the second embodimentaccording to the present invention might be applied is shown in FIG. 5.An incoming video signal is supplied to a noise reducer 19 which passesthe noise reduced video signal to a video encoder 20 before it is inputto a multiplexer 22 which additionally receives a supplied audio signalvia an audio encoder 21. The multiplexer 22 multiplexes both inputsignals, i.e. the noise reduced video encoded video signal and the audioencoded audio signal, and transmits them—via an optional channel 23—to ademultiplexer 24. Multiplexer and demultiplexer may also be an option.The demultiplexer 24 demultiplexes the encoded video signal and theencoded audio signal and supplies them to respective decoders, i.e. theencoded video signal to a video decoder 25 and the encoded audio signalto an audio decoder 26. The audio decoder 26 outputs the decoded audiosignal, and via a format converter 27 the video decoder 25 outputs thedecoded video signal.

The global analysis module according to the present invention, in thiscase the motion estimator which is preferably generating true-motionvectors, passes its analysis results, i.e. video information, here the(true) motion vectors to the different processing stages in a videoprocessing system. The processing stages may consist of the noisereducer 19, the video encoder 20, and the format converter 27, as theyare shown in FIG. 5. These processing stages have the followingfunctionality:

Noise reducer 19: Reduces noise from an analog input signal by applyinga temporal filter and an optional spatial filter.

Video encoder 20: Compresses the video signal in spatial and temporaldirection. Format converter 27: Converts the format of the video signalto match the desired output format. This includes the output to aprogressive display.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 may be designed as a single device.

A full-blown video processing system employs all of these processingstages simultaneously. FIG. 5 shows a potential embodiment of such asystem; a personal video recorder (PVR) style application comprising anoise reducer 19, a video encoder 20 and a format converter 27. Ananalog signal is input to the system. In the first step the signal isnoise-filtered. The second step is encoding the signal applying e.g.inter-frame coding. The output of the video encoder is multiplexed withthe output of an optional audio encoder and a transport/program streamis created. The multiplexed stream is possibly stored on a storagemedium and eventually input to a demultiplexer 24 that splits the videoand audio data into two separate streams and a private stream. The videodata stream is input to a video decoder 25. The video decoder 25restores the base band video signal. The output of the video decoder 25is finally matched to the desired output format of the system in theformat converter 27. Similarly, the audio stream is input to an audiodecoder 26, which decodes the stream and then outputs the uncompressedaudio data.

According to the present invention a common set of motion vectors isemployed in various video processing stages. High-quality video noisereducers and video format converters typically employ motioncompensation as a technique to trace moving objects in a video sequence.Video coding algorithms are typically based on motion-compensation, too,in case they utilise inter-frame prediction. The proposed systemaccording to the present invention makes use of a common motionestimator and feeds the derived motion vectors to the various modulesapplying motion estimation as part of their processing routine.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the proposed solution to estimate themotion and distribute the motion vectors for the PVR-style application.A common motion estimator 28 lies at the heart of the system. Thismotion estimator 28 provides motion vectors to the noise reducer 19, thevideo encoder 20 and the video format converter 27. The noise reducer19, which in this case consists of a spatial noise reducer 19 a and atemporal noise reducer 19 b which receives the motion vectors, and thevideo format converter 27 input these vectors directly.

The motion vectors may be refined by an optional motion vectorrefinement unit 29 in case they are fed to the video encoder 20 toimprove the vector quality. This step includes the refinement of themotion vectors to produce suitable motion vectors for the encodingstage, i.e. the video encoder 20. The video encoder 20 hence utilisesmotion vectors between successive fields and does not rely on motionvectors between pairs of fields or frames within a GOP/VOP. Therefinement of the motion vectors can either be integrated in the motionestimator or it can be added as a separate module, i.e. the motionvector refinement unit 29, as shown in FIG. 6. The refined motionvectors become part of the video syntax and are inserted into the videoelementary stream.

The motion-compensated noise reducer 19 filters the analog signal. Thetemporal noise filter 19 b makes direct use of the motion vectorsgenerated by the motion estimator 28. The noise reducer 19 may apply aspatial filter 19 a, too. One advantage of the proposed system is theuse of a single noise reducer 19 for the analog video signal.

Since the video format converter 27 is applied after the video decoder25 when the video baseband signal has been restored, the motion vectorsfor the format converter are either stored locally or—in case of atransmission channel 23—transmitted to a receiver. It is desirable tominimise the data size of these motion vectors in storage ortransmission applications. Hence, the motion vectors may be compressedby a motion vector encoder 30 utilising a loss-less data compressiontechnique such as variable length encoding (VLE) possibly in combinationwith run-length coding (RLC). Loss less compression techniques cantypically decrease the data size by a factor of around 6. One of theadvantages of the proposed system is the fact that many video codecs(encoder/decoder systems) contain a coprocessor for variable lengthencoding/decoding (VLX). An efficient implementation will utilise thiscoprocessor for video coding and motion estimation vector codingpurposes. The coprocessor can run in parallel to the processing on themain processor. The VLX computation therefore utilises an idlingcoprocessor and is not increasing the computational load on the mainprocessor.

Once the motion vectors are compressed, they are multiplexed into thetransmitted/stored bit stream as private stream data together with thevideo elementary stream and an optional audio elementary stream. Sincethe maximum number of motion vectors per video frame is known, an upperlimit for the number of allocated bits per frame can be derived. A 16×16block size applied in the motion estimation process for a PAL signal forexample will result in an effective data rate of approximately 100 kbps.The upper limit may be used to derive a constant bit rate for thisprivate stream. The bit rate of the multiplexed stream is slightlyincreased due to the additional private stream in the transport layer.The multiplexed stream then may either be stored locally or transmittedto a receiver. The proposed system may be extended to handle multiplevideo streams simultaneously. The system may either output multipletransport/program streams or combine all streams into a singlemultiplexed stream.

Of course, a combination with the first embodiment of the presentinvention is also possible, in which case a VMDP encoder would be usedto encode the compressed or uncompressed motion vectors.

As shown in FIG. 7, at the decoder side the transport/program stream(s)is demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 24. The various demultiplexeroutputs, i.e. the private stream carrying the motion vectors, theencoded video signal, and the encoded audio signal, are fed to therespective decoders, i.e. a motion vector decoder 31, the video decoder25, and the audio decoder 26. The private stream containing thecompressed motion vectors for the format converter 27 is input to thevideo decoder 25 which in this case has a decompressor functionality.Ideally, the variable length decoding (VLD) is utilising the sameresources as the video decoder 25. The format converter 27 then appliesthe decompressed motion vectors to the baseband video signal restored bythe video decoder 25. Similarly to the encoder side, the VLD can be runin parallel to the format conversion processing on the main processor.

The proposed system is highly suitable for a PV R-style application. Theblock diagram of such an application exactly corresponds to FIG. 5. Thevideo signal is always encoded and then decoded even in the live mode.It should be emphasised that also various subsets of the embodimentdescribed by FIG. 5 are covered by the invention. For example, a videosystem without encoder/decoder blocks 20, 25 is covered, as well.Further, the encoding process might be applied at the broadcaster sideso that the compressed digital stream arrives at the receiver sidecontaining a video elementary stream and an associated supplementaryprivate stream containing the true motion vector data.

The advantage of the solution according to the present invention is thatno processing steps are done twice. This reduces the computational loadof the system or the computational resources can be concentrated. Inthis way, the system resources are used more effectively, e.g. thepicture quality can be improved by the utilisation of a common motionestimator generating true-motion vectors. Also system cost can bereduced due to skipping redundant processing steps and the complexity ofthe overall system is reduced, since the resources might be shared, i.e.less components are required, e.g. a single common motion estimator forthe encoding and the format conversion parts are used.

Further, the complete analysis information can be made available to allpicture-processing components which might also lead to an improvement ofthe overall picture quality, e.g. by the harmonisation of motion vectorinformation utilised by the different video processing stages.Generally, the picture-processing components can exploit all informationor only parts of it, depending of their nature. This can increase theachievable picture quality, because analysis information, which was notaccessible before can be utilised now.

Moreover, the system is scalable, because it is possible the leave outsome of the analysis components without changing the picture processingmodule. In this way, it is straightforward to design and realizeprocessing chains for devices, where only the mid-range or low-endpicture quality is expected. This can reduce the time-to-market.

Still further, computation load can be shifted from the client side tothe server side, e.g. the motion estimation necessary for the noisereduction and the format conversion processes.

An example is that high end 100 Hz TVs require motion compensated framerate conversion whereas Mid Range or low end TVs can work with motionadaptive or static up-conversion. If the (expensive) motion estimator isleft out, the VMDP encoder might set the motion vector part of theprotocol to zero vectors. The frame rate converter performs then astatic up-conversion. In this case, the motion estimator, which can be ahardware add-on component to picture improvement system, which isimplemented in software on a DSP, can be left out without changing thesoftware implementation.

The range of applications of the present invention covers analog videoprocessing systems, mixed (analog/digital) video processing systems, anddigital video processing systems. Systems comprising local encoders aswell as remote encoders (e.g. broadcasters) as well as systemscomprising integrated or separated encoder/decoder (codec) systems aresupported.

The invention describes a new system approach picture processing. Inthis system, all picture analysis components like motion estimation orsegmentation are concentrated in a single picture analysis module. Allpicture-processing components like frame rate conversion or pictureimprovement are preferably also concentrated in a centralpicture-processing module. The analysis information is transferred witha Video Meta Data Stream. The centralisation saves computational power,removes redundant processing steps and makes analysis informationavailable to all picture-processing components. The system is scalablebecause parts of the analysis/picture processing components can be leftout/changed, without changing the respective other module. Quality canbe increased/decreased in this way.

1. Video signal processing system, comprising: a video signal or pictureanalysis module (VSAM) being adapted to realize—in particular all—videosignal or picture analysis processes with respect to received video datain concentrated and/or centralized form, a video signal or pictureprocessing module (VSPM) being adapted to realize—in particularall—video signal or picture processing processes with respect toreceived video data in concentrated and/or centralized form.
 2. Videosignal processing system according to claim 1, wherein said video signalor picture analysis module (VSAM) comprises—in particular all—videosignal or picture analysis components in concentrated and/or centralizedform, in particular motion estimation and/or segmentation,
 3. Videosignal processing system according to claim 1 wherein said video signalor picture processing module (VSPM) comprises—in particular all—videosignal or picture processing components in concentrated and/orcentralized form, in particular frame rate conversion and/or pictureimprovement components,
 4. Video signal processing system according toclaim 1, wherein a video meta data transmission channel (VMDC, 3, 4) isprovided being adapted to connect said video signal or picture analysismodule (VSAM) and said video signal or picture processing module (VSPM)so as to enable an exchange of video meta data.
 5. Video signalprocessing system according to claim 4, wherein said video meta datatransmission channel (VMDC, 3, 4) comprises a forward channel (3) totransmit said video meta data from said video signal or picture analysismodule (VSAM) to said video signal or picture processing module (VSPM).6. Video signal processing system according to claim 4, wherein saidvideo meta data comprise picture analysis information, in particular toprocess a video signal on the side of said video signal or pictureprocessing module (VSPM).
 7. Video signal processing system according toclaim 4, wherein said video meta data transmission channel (VMDC, 3, 4)comprises a backward channel (3) to transmit video quality data fromsaid video signal or picture processing module (VSPM) to said videosignal or picture analysis module (VSAM).
 8. Video signal processingsystem according to claim 7, said video quality data are adapted toprovide a respective feedback to said video meta data received by thevideo signal or picture processing module (VSPM) from said video signalor picture analysis module (VSAM).
 9. Video signal processing systemaccording to claim 7, wherein said video quality data comprise picturequality information to pre-process and/or analyse a video signal on theside of said video signal or picture analysis module (VSAM).
 10. Videosignal transmitter, wherein video signal or picture analysis module(VSAM) as a global analysis module (1; 28) is provided for analysing anincoming video signal and providing video information correspondingthereto to at least one video pre-processing stage (19, 20) within thevideo signal transmitter and/or via a video information channel (3; 23)to at least one video signal processing stage (2; 27) within a videosignal receiver.
 11. Video signal transmitter according to claim 10,wherein said global analysis module (1; 28) comprises a motion estimator(5; 28), and/or an edge detector (6), and/or a noise measurement unit(7), and/or a film mode detector (8), and/or a histogram calculationunit (9), and/or a block detector (10), and/or a segmentation unit (11).12. Video signal transmitter according to claim 10, wherein said globalanalysis module (1) comprises a video meta data encoder (12) to encodesaid video information into video meta data.
 13. Video signaltransmitter according to claim 10, wherein said global analysis module(1) is formed to adapt its parameter settings according to receivedpicture quality information so as to improve its analysis functionality.14. Video signal transmitter according to claim 10, wherein at least onepre-processing stage (19, 20) is adapted to receive video informationand to pre-process an incoming video signal according to said receivedvideo information before said video signal is transmitted to a videosignal receiver.
 15. Video signal transmitter according to claim 14,wherein said least one pre-processing stage comprises a noise reducer(19), and/or a video encoder (20).
 16. Video signal transmitteraccording to claim 14, wherein said least one pre-processing stagecomprises a video meta data decoder.
 17. Video signal receiver, whereinat least one video signal or picture processing module (VSPM) as aprocessing module (2; 27) is provided for processing a video signalreceived from a video signal transmitter and in particular from a videosignal or picture analysis module (VSAM) based on video informationreceived from said video signal transmitter.
 18. Video signal receiveraccording to claim 17, wherein said at least one processing module (2)comprises a video meta data decoder (13) to decode said videoinformation from received video meta data.
 19. Video signal receiveraccording to claim 17, wherein said at least one processing module (2)provides picture quality information as feedback to said videoinformation to said video signal transmitter.
 20. Video signal receiveraccording to claim 17, wherein said at least one processing module (2;27) comprises a video format converter (27), and/or a frame rateconverter (14), and/or an interlaced to progressive converter (16),and/or a noise reducer (17), and/or a picture improvement unit (17),and/or a de-blocking unit (18).